It's been a while since the Chicago Bears last took the field, but the wait is almost over as their Week 8 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks gets closer and closer. The Bears are closing the week out with a trip to the West Coast to take on the Seahawks in what will be a pivotal NFC showdown with playoff implications midway through the year.
The Bears (5-2) opened Week 7 on Thursday Night Football with a 30-24 victory over the New England Patriots behind quarterback Caleb Williams' two touchdown passes. They enjoyed a mini bye week and brought in major reinforcements in the process. On Thursday, Chicago landed All-Pro Jeffery Simmons from the Tennessee Titans in exchange for two first-round picks and a fourth-round pick. Simmons instantly
transforms the Bears' defense, and all signs point to him making his debut on Monday Night Football.
The Seahawks (3-3) got back on track last week with a statement victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, winning 20-3 in dominant fashion. It's been an up-and-down season for the reigning Super Bowl champions, and they're hoping to get a winning streak going to keep pace in a crowded NFC.
This is arguably going to be the toughest test yet for the Bears, and they will need to execute at every level to come away with a win, as well as containing some elite players on the other sideline. Here are the Seahawks players we'll be watching on Monday night:
1. QB Sam Darnold
Which Sam Darnold will the Bears see on Monday night? Will it be the gamer who propelled the Seahawks to the Super Bowl last postseason with a perfect 5-0 touchdown to interception ratio, or will it be the quarterback who leads the NFL in interceptions despite playing in just five full games while having the best receiver in the game to target?
Darnold has struggled in recent weeks, throwing interceptions in every full game this year. His protection hasn't been the best either, hence why Seattle acquired star guard Quenton Nelson earlier in the week, as he's taken 13 sacks over the last four weeks. Seattle will also be without left tackle Charles Cross, putting more pressure on Darnold to avoid the pressure. But he's coming off one of his better games of the season after throwing for 257 yards, a touchdown, and an interception, while completing 71.4% of his passes against the Kansas City Chiefs. We'll see if that carries over Monday or if Darnold's struggles continue.
2. WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Jaxon Smith-Njigba will be the best player on the field when the game kicks off. The reigning Offensive Player of the Year has blossomed into arguably the best receiver in football, and he's once again leading the way in 2026. Smith-Njigba leads all players with 867 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. He has eclipsed 100 yards in all but one game this season and has shown the ability to bail out Darnold and the offense at any given moment.
And it almost doesn't matter what kind of coverage Smith-Njigba is commanding. Whether he's one-on-one or facing a blanket coverage, he always seems to come down with the ball one way or another. The Bears will need to do everything they can to limit the damage he can cause. If Smith-Njigba gets shut down, the entire Seahawks offense gets shut down.
3. G Quenton Nelson
The Bears weren't the only team to land a star lineman from the AFC South. Prior to the blockbuster trade for Simmons, the Seahawks acquired perennial Pro Bowl guard Quenton Nelson from the Indianapolis Colts for a pair of draft picks. Nelson immediately fills a void on their offensive line as the Seahawks do some shuffling, moving Grey Zabel to the opposite side of the line for the 2018 first-round pick.
Nelson has been named to the Pro Bowl every year since coming into the league and is having another stellar season. He has allowed just six pressures, one hit, and no sacks all year long. With the Seahawks likely not having tackle Charles Cross available, Nelson will be counted on even more to deliver. He's on a new team with different verbiage and unfamiliar teammates, but that shouldn't stop him from holding down the line. We'll see how effective he is and what the battle between him and Simmons looks like while wearing new jerseys.
4. DL Leonard Williams
Speaking of Simmons, there has been plenty of talk regarding his status as one of the best defensive tackles in the league following the trade that sent him to the Bears. And usually when his stats and production are brought up, Leonard Williams is right there with him. The Seahawks' defensive tackle has been in the league for over a decade but seems to be getting better with age. He was a key cog of their Super Bowl-winning defense last year and is once again enjoying a solid season.
Through seven games, Williams has totaled three sacks with seven tackle for loss and a pass defensed. He's also tied for seventh in the league with 22 total pressures. Williams was a big part of the Seahawks' ability to contain the Kansas City Chiefs' offense last week and hold them to a season-low 213 total yards. With the Bears continuing to have question marks at running back, Williams will be a major factor and could prevent them from operating their entire offense.
5. DB Devon Witherspoon
The Seahawks defense is littered with playmakers at every level, but perhaps none of them are as versatile as cornerback Devon Witherspoon. He's excellent at nickel but can also play the outside. His run defense is spectacular, yet he's allowing just 4 receiving yards when targeted in the passing game. Witherspoon is the total package and could be a nightmare for the Bears to deal with on Monday.
Through seven games, Witherspoon is allowing a completion percentage of just 63.4% and has yet to give up a touchdown. According to Player Profiler, Witherspoon has yet to allow 40 yards in a single game this season. For context, Jaylon Johnson has done that five times so far. Witherspoon doesn't create turnovers, but he's sticky in coverage and will blitz often. The Bears will need to be aware of his presence at all times when they're on offense.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 5 Seahawks players to watch vs. Bears
